October 18, 2013

490 years ago
1523

Born on this date
Anna Jagiellonka. Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania, 1575-1587. Anna was the daughter of King Sigismund I, and declined numerous marriage proposals until she was 52. Her brother King Sigismund II died in 1572, and Prince Henry de Valois was elected King in 1573 with Anna's support; he left Poland in 1574 to assume the throne of France, and was removed as king in 1575. Anna had to marry in order to be eligible for the throne of Poland, so she married Stephen Bلthory, Voivode of Transylvania, in 1575, and the couple were elected as co-rulers of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. After Stephen died in December 1586, Anna declined the opportunity to be elected as queen; she died on September 9, 1596 at the age of 72, and was succeeded by her nephew Sigismund III.

140 years ago
1873

Born on this date
Ivanoe Bonomi. Prime Minister of Italy, 1921-1922, 1944-1945. Mr. Bonomi was a member of the Italian Socialist Party when he was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1909, but was expelled from the party in 1912 for advocatiing reform. He then joined the Italian Reformist Socialist Party and served as Minister of Public Works (1916-1917) and Minister of War (1920-1921) before leading a coalition government for a year and then withdrawing from politics after the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini came to power. Mr. Bonomi joined an anti-Fascist movement in 1940 and served as Prime Minister as leader of the Labour Democratic Party during the country's transition back to democracy, introducing several social reforms. He joined the Italian Democratic Socialist Party in 1947, and was appointed to the Senate in 1948, serving as its President until his death on April 20, 1951 at the age of 77.

125 years ago
1888

Baseball
World Series
St. Louis Browns 2 @ New York Giants 4 (New York led best-of-ten series 2-1)

The Giants scored 2 runs in the 1st inning and a run in each of the 4th and 7th innings before 5,780 fans at the Polo Grounds. The Browns scored a run in each of the 8th and 9th innings. Tim Keefe pitched a 5-hitter for his second win of the series, while Silver King gave up 5 hits in absorbing his second loss. The Browns made 5 errors and the Giants 2.

120 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Roy Del Ruth. U.S. film director, producer, and screenwriter. Mr. Del Ruth began his career as a writer for Mack Sennett's silent comedy films in 1915, and directed his first movie in 1919. His films included The Maltese Falcon (1931) and Blonde Crazy (1931). Mr. Del Ruth died of a heart attack on April 27, 1961 at the age of 67.

Sidney Holland. Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1949-1957. Sir Sidney was first elected to Parliament as a candidate for the Reform Party in 1935, and helped to found the National Party in 1938. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 1940-1949, taking office as Prime Minister after leading the National Party to its first electoral victory. Sir Sidney's government abolished the Legislative Council (upper house of Parliament); confronted labour unions; reinstated capital punishment; and entered into the ANZUS defense agreement with Australia and the United States. Sir Sidney suffered a heart attack or stroke during the Suez Crisis in October 1956, retired as Prime Minister 11 months later. He died on August 5, 1961 at the age of 67.

Died on this date
Charles Gounod, 75. French composer. Mr. Gounod was best known for his Ave Maria; the opera Faust (1859); and Funeral March of a Marionette (1872).

100 years ago
1913

Football
CRU
IRFU
Montreal (0-2) 1 @ Hamilton (1-1) 36
Ottawa (1-0) 10 @ Toronto (1-0) 10

The Rough Riders started to walk off the field at the end of regulation time in their game against the Argonauts at Rosedale Field. When they were warned that they would forfeit the game if they left, they agreed to play two 10-minute periods of overtime. However, the referee called the game because of darkness after just 5 minutes of overtime had been played. The tie was later replayed.

Baseball
The New York Giants and Chicago White Sox began their post-season exhibition tour, with the Giants winning 11-2 in Cincinnati.

70 years ago
1943

At the movies
The Dark Tower, directed by John Harlow, and starring Ben Lyon, Anne Crawford, David Farrar, and Herbert Lom, opened in theatres in the United Kingdom.



War
An exchange of disabled prisoners was reported under way between the Allies and Germany at Goteborg, Sweden and Barcelona. Soviet units fought their way into the centre of Melitopol, German forces still held other portions of the southern Ukrainian city. Yugoslavian partisans began a new offensive along a 140-mile front in Slovenia, with the aim of pushing south to capture the Croatian capital of Zagreb. Allied forces advanced along the whole Italian front, occupying 23 towns, including the last German position on the north bank of the Volturno River in Brezza. In a surprise raid on Rapaul, New Britain, Allied planes destroyed 60 enemy planes on the ground and aloft and sank three vessels. The assembly of the Japanese-controlled Philippine government ratified the alliance with Japan, committing it to the Japanese war effort.

Diplomacy
U.S. State Secretary Cordell Hull and U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden arrived in Moscow from Tehran and discussed with U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov plans for a three-power conference.

60 years ago
1953

Football
CRU
IRFU
Toronto (4-6) 11 @ Montreal (6-4) 39

ORFU
Kitchener-Waterloo (7-3) 9 @ Toronto (6-3) 31

Sam Etcheverry threw 4 touchdown passes--2 to Red O'Quinn, and 1 each to Joey Pal and Alex Webster--as the Alouettes beat the Argonauts at Delorimier Stadium. Chuck Hunsinger rushed 2 yards for a Montreal touchdown, and Ed Bradley returned a fumble for the Alouettes' other TD. Ray Poole added 5 converts and a field goal. Joe Scudero scored the first Toronto touchdown, and Al Bruno scored the other on a pass from Nobby Wirkowski in the 4th quarter. The game had originally been scheduled for October 4 but had been postponed because the stadium was being used by the Montreal Royals for baseball's Little World Series.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Kiss Me Quick--Brendan Bowyer (7th week at #1)

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Sugar Shack--Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs (2nd week at #1)
2 Bossa Nova Baby--Elvis Presley
3 Three Rows Over--Bobby Curtola
4 Blue Bayou--Roy Orbison
5 Blue Guitar--Richard Chamberlain
6 I'm the Same Old Me--Lorne Greene
7 Don't Think Twice, It's All Right--Peter, Paul and Mary
8 Deep Purple--Nino Tempo & April Stevens
9 Blue Velvet--Bobby Vinton
10 Little Deuce Coupe--The Beach Boys

On television tonight
Twilight Zone, hosted by Rod Serling, on CBS
Tonight's episode: A Kind of a Stopwatch, starring Richard Erdman and Roy Roberts

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on CBS
Tonight's episode: You'll Be the Death of Me, starring Robert Loggia and Pilar Seurat

Space
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration introduced its third group of astronauts. The 14 men were: Buzz Aldrin; Bill Anders; Charlie Bassett; Al Bean; Gene Cernan; Roger Chaffee; Mike Collins; Walt Cunningham; Donn Eisele; Ted Freeman; Dick Gordon; Russell "Rusty" Schweickart; David Scott; and C.C. Williams. The announcement was made at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston.



The U.S.S.R. launched the satellite Cosmos 20.

Politics and government
Lord Home, a Scottish Earl, was chosen by Harold Macmillan to succeed him as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Mr. Macmillan had announced his resignation a week earlier because of ill health.

Boxing
Sonny Banks (16-4) won a 10-round split decision over Dave Bailey (14-9-3) in a heavyweight bout at Cobo Arena in Detroit.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): My Friend Stan--Slade

Died on this date
Leo Strauss, 74. German-born U.S. political philosopher. Dr. Strauss received his education in his native Germany, but left the country after the Nazis took power in 1933, moving to England and then to the United States in 1937. He taught at the University of Chicago from 1949-1969, specializing in contemporary applications of classical theorists such as Plato and Aristotle. Dr. Strauss has been accused of influencing the neoconservative policies of U.S. administrations such as that of President George W. Bush, but that assertion is a matter of dispute. Dr. Strauss died of pneumonia.

Terrorism
Five Arab guerrillas seized the Bank of America office in Beirut and took 40 bank employees hostage, threatening to blow up the building unless the Bank of America agreed to pay $10 million to the Arab war effort against Israel. The terrorists also demanded that Lebanon release all Palestinian guerrillas and provide them safe conduct to Algeria.

Baseball
World Series
Oakland Athletics 0 @ New York Mets 2 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw combined to limit the Athletics to 3 hits before 54,817 fans at Shea Stadium. Cleon Jones led off the bottom of the 2nd inning with a double off Oakland starting pitcher Vida Blue and the next batter, John Milner, singled him home. With 2 out in the 6th, Jerry Grote singled and scored on a triple by Don Hahn. Oakland outfielder Billy Conigliaro made his final appearance in a major league game, striking out as a pinch hitter for relief pitcher Rollie Fingers for the game's final out. Mr. Koosman gave up 3 hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win, while Mr. McGraw pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings for the save.



30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Moonlight Shadow--Mike Oldfield (5th week at #1)

Music
This blogger, with enjoyable female company, was in the audience as Gene Pitney performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton. I paid $14.25 per ticket.

25 years ago
1988

Baseball
World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers 1 @ Oakland Athletics 2 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Mark McGwire hit a home run off Jay Howell with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Athletics their win before 49,316 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Rick Honeycutt, the fourth Oakland pitcher of the game, pitched 2 innings and was credited with the win. Mr. Howell, who had just entered the game, took the loss. Bob Welch started on the mound for the Athletics and gave up 6 hits and a run in 5 innings. John Tudor started for the Dodgers but left with an injury after retiring the first 4 batters to face him. Tim Leary pitched the next 3 2/3 innings in relief of Mr. Tudor.



20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): What's Up?--4 Non Blondes (9th week at #1)

Abominations
A jury in Los Angeles found Negro thug Damian Williams not guilty of attempted murder in the 1992 beating of white truck driver Reginald Denny, buit guilty of lesser charges. Mr. Denny was the victim of Negro rioting in the aftermath of the acquittal of four white Los Angeles police officers of the beating of Negro criminal Rodney King.

Football
CFL
Calgary (14-1) 51 @ Toronto (3-12) 7

Doug Flutie completed 16 of 25 passes for 292 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed for another TD to lead the Stampeders to a rout of the Argonauts before 21,023 fans at SkyDome. Dave Sapunjis caught 2 touchdown passes from Mr. Flutie, while Will Moore caught a touchdown pass from Mr. Flutie and another from backup quarterback Steve Taylor. Brian Wiggins caught the other touchdown pass from Mr. Flutie, and Derrick Crawford also caught a TD pass from Mr. Taylor. The Calgary defense held the Argonauts without a touchdown.

10 years ago
2003

Football
CFL
British Columbia (11-6) 29 @ Hamilton (1-17) 23

The Tiger-Cats' loss to the Lions at Ivor Wynne Stadium gave them the dubious distinction of becoming the first--and so far, only--CFL team to lose 17 games in a regular season.



CIS
Alberta (4-3) 16 @ Saskatchewan (7-0) 18

Baseball
World Series
Florida Marlins 3 @ New York Yankees 2 (Florida led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Center fielder Juan Pierre singled and scored in the 1st inning and drove in 2 runs with a single in the 5th inning before 55,769 fans at Yankee Stadium. Brad Penny pitched 5.1 innings to get credit for the win. Dontrelle Willis followed with 2 1/3 innings before Ugueth Urbina pitched 1.1 innings for the save. New York placed runners on first and second bases with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, but Alfonso Soriano struck out and Nick Johnson flied out to Mr. Pierre to end the game.